The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-12


the German army depend upon majorities in the
Reichstaef By doing SO you change the I'M
perlal army into parliamentary force. In this
case we might have to appeal to the electors
TO discover whether that is really the wish of the
nation. We shall whether the electors will
permit ideas actively to exist according to which
the strength OF the army is to be determined by
the Relchstag without the consent of the Federal
Couneii and the Emperor. You can hardly ex-
pect that the Emperor in his ninetieth year,
will contribute to the destruction of the work to
which he has devoted the last thirty years of his
life-the creation of Germany and the army Of
the German empire. If you believe that pos
sible it you waken the slightest suspicion that
that these are your aims, and if you do not
speedily satisfy the wishes OF the federal gov
ernmeut regarding the defensive powers of Ger
many by complete acceptance OF this bill. then
we prefer to deal with another Reichstag. We
will enter into no further negotiations with you.
The danger in which might place the Ger
man nation by procrastinati0n forces us to
promptly obtain decisive answer or to address
ourselves to others who will give Us such an
answer
1.-The question has been asked, why has the
government not waited for the expiration of the
existing septennatep The leading reason
that the government has been convinced that
the system OF frontier guarding requires lmme-
date strengthening We did not wish to
danger the security of The empire by delaying
the bill, and were not prepared for any opposi-
tlon to so moderate demand. Had We known
first consult the electors as to whether or not
they wished to preserve to the German empire
its present possessions. AS it is, we must now
insist upon our demands"
At the conclusion of the speech Prince Bis.
marck was loudly cheered.
The following is the official text of certain por
tions of Prince Bismarcks speech:
Having regard for the effect of our former
friendship with the three great Eastern courts,
we deemed it our mission not only to bring
about a reconciliation with our former autago-
nists, but also to found new friendship between
the three imperial powers Of the present day.
Our friendship with Russia is beyond all doubt.
and places no obstacle in our way in this re-
spect ICheers. Expressing myself thus frank
ly may ALLEVIATE Polish votes, but am bound to
honor and truth and 1 say that all the motives
for the bill which the people sought to adduce
from our relations with Russia according to
my political understanding, do not exist.
Simple love OF fighting cannot surely induce
to pick a quarrel with neishbor who does not
| attack Us. Such barbarian instinct is foreign
to Germany. ! do not believe Russia will at
tack us, nor that she is seeking alliances in
der to assafl IS in unison with others Nor do
| believe that she would take advantage of diff
cultes which might assail US from another quar-
| ter in order TO attack US with greater facility.
| The Car has always had the courage to express
| his opinions, and il ne intended to enter into IN
| friendly relations with Germany he would first
| say and make the matter clearly understood.
| Every who has had the honor to approach
| him at al nearly can trust him to do this.
1.-The question how we shall stand with France
| in the future is, for me, less certain l
| have need to refer to all the European
| powers | make reference to England or
| Italy because there is absolutely no reason why
| we should not have for BOTH and they for u.s.
| the greatest good will. Our relations with both
| are such that shall not touch upon them. In
connection with the question Of the increase Of
our army they are in every respect friendly"
"tVHt Avart AlyA rS.f n0Ft ho oInytt ttny
| of a term of three years He protested against
Prince Bismarck's reference to Hanover. declar-
| ing that Hanover would never seek to regain in
dependence through The aid of foreign state.
! On the whelespt-sas not satisied with Prince
I 1Bismarck's view OF the general situation. He
| was unable, however, to understand why Ger
| many had no interests in the East. The Chan
ceIlor could certainly dissolve the Kechstag, but
| what would be gained by dissolntions What
| would be the use Of the Constitution. or even
| the whole machinery of the state, if the
Raichstag was existent only to signify its assent
| to measures submitted to itl In conclusion. he
! begged the Chancellor to consider whether he
would wreck the bill on the question of its dura-
| ton.
Prince Bismarck rose to reply. He sald: 1.-THE
| house has heard Count Won Moltke and DIR.
| Windthorst. The question ia whether the latter
| is superior to the former military authority.
| Were there such patriotism among us as exists
| in France and Italy, which in times of danger
| ignores party distinctions, there would be no
|
| is shall our army be an imperial or parlia-
| mentarv force} Shall its effective strength be
fixed mere yeary2 Now, this shall not be-
| A Voce-The navyl
is different. The Reicbstag has always sup
| ported the navy, which, moreover. has always
had Herr Kicker on its side. To say that we
| wish. by dissolving, to secure assembly
taking an exaggerated view Grumbling by
| Parliament when demands made for the Sc
| curity of the empire is nowhere as customary as
it is in Germany. With regard to the Eastern
can and will mako the interests OF the
other it's own, but that one power should abso
lutely and entirely sacrifice itself for the other
| is impossible Each has interests not affecting
the other. Each must, therefore, go its own
| way. Herr WinGthorst, in saying that Russia
is our ally, did not hit the mark In the pres
ence OF the good relations existing between Ger
many and other powers, and the possibility ol
| a with France, | have counted ally
| nor can he. Ii the delay in passing the bill has
| encouraged the war party in France, those per
SONS must be held responsible who have'caused
| the delay"
Prince Bismarck proceeded to discuss the
| financial aspects OF the bill. He disputed the as
serton that expenses would be incurred which
the country would be unable to support. With
regard tc Hanover, Prince Bismarck reminded
the house that the late King George had tried
| through the lnstrumentality of Nanaleon to pro
cure his reinstatement there. 1t might be tha,
his son had by this time changed his views bu
there proof that he had"
In conclusion, the Chancellor said that tn.
government could have no further dealings with
the committee; the decision lay with the hous,
itself For his own part, he could never per
suade himself to waste time by attending tn,
sittings of the committee.
Prince Bismarck became passionate when re-
| ferring to France. and was apparently inditfer
ent as to what impression his words were likely
! to make. There was marked difference in hi.
references to Russia Every word he uttered
showed his anxiety not to offend Russia or max,
| her suspicious. During his speech Prince Bis
| marck drank nine glasses of cold brandy 49,
water While the debate was going on the gal
| leries in the Reichstag were crammed, ana tn,
streets adjacent to the house were thronget
with peope.
When Prince Bismarck had concluded his re